The
Monticello State Bank is on the far left. What appears to be the next
door building is actually across the street, that building was the
Shultz Bros. Dime Store until it burned in the 1960s. The building that
appears to be the largest and closest to the camera is the Lovell State
Bank building, the bank was housed primarily on the right side of the
building and I believe that the half with the striped canopy was the
Ricklefs Dry Goods store for many years. The building on the far right
was the Gamble Store in the 1950's through the 1970's run by "Casey"
Jones.
The Lovell State Bank building cost $24,000 and was
originally the old Slade Tavern location. The building front was
constructed of rain drop sandstone from a quarry in Northern Michigan.
The pillars are dark granite; second story and sides are St. Paul
Pressed Brick. Inside, the door casings are quarter-sawn oak furnished
by Farley and Loelscher Company of Dubuque. Furniture and counters are
also quarter-sawn oak manufactured by a firm from Waterloo. The safe was
built by Diebold Safe and Lock Safe Co., Canton, Ohio. The liner of
vault is three layers of steel and weighs twenty tons.
Note that
the front of the card is mislabeled "Lowell" Block. I have a copy of
another edition of the card that was postally used.
POSTMARKED:
Monticello, Iowa, 28 Dec 1923 MAILED TO: Mrs. M. A. Frazer, 201 4th,
San Barndino, California MESSAGE: Monticello Dec. 27 -23 Mrs.
M. A. Frazier in San Bardino
Friend Frazier. Were glad to hear
from you have thought so often & talked about you and wondered where you
were and what you were doing. We went through your town 8 years ago. We
have been living in Monticello the last 4 years. With Love and Best
wishes. James & Emma Livingston
